permaculture

Permaculture is a design system that aims to create an abundance of yield in a sustainable way. In a domestic garden a ‘yield’ might be fruits/edibles, relaxation, privacy, exercise and beauty. Our designs aim to provide these yields and more with a minimum input of money, effort over time, carbon footprint and pollution.

Permaculture was originally developed by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren in the 1970’s. Since then it has been constantly developed by a huge range of people in many different countries and it is now a worldwide phenomenon with a multitude of different strands and approaches.

The three principals of permaculture are:

Earth care

People care

Fair shares

These ethics specifically maintain that we can develop systems where the planet and its inhabitants achieve and develop a state of well-being through using resources in a balanced way.

In permaculture systems the fertility and health of a particular place is not only maintained but it is also enhanced. This is the exact opposite of agriculture where the soil loses its own fertility every year and has to be fed with oil based fertilizers.

Fletcher studied permaculture under Steve Read at Five Acres in Downe. He came away with a renewed respect and awareness of the interconnectedness of the natural world and our place in it. Permaculture provides a design methodology that balances the needs of the client, the wildlife and plants, and the wider environment.

We can offer a range of technologies and approaches to reduce environmental impact:

– Grey water recycling and rain water harvesting

– Recycling and use of composted materials

– Design of drought tolerant planting

– Implementation of green walls and green roofs

– Sustainable drainage systems, permeable paving

– Reduction of run off into mains drains and sewers

– Soft landscaping solutions for urban areas

– Waste minimisation measures

– Maximum biodiversity within planting schemes

– Ethical sourcing of hard landscape materials and strict observation of FSC and other codes